Aikido for 08/26/2010 and new dojo floor

Ken taught Aikido class as Tip was out for the night. After warm-up, we practiced katatetori kokyunage tenkan style, shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura, munetsuki hijinage, munetsuki kotegashei. We then worked on the same Doran Sensei bokken exercise and a different bokken kata.

This past weekend, I spent at the dojo. Friday night we moved the mats to Garry's house. Saturday, while people were ripping out the floor, I went with Nate, Clint, and Doug to Lowes and help load all of the building supplies for the new floor of the dojo. This took most of the morning (2 hours) as it took four truck-loads to move all of the material. I then went back and help remove the old floor's 2x4 beams. On Sunday, we started at 10 am and worked until 4, building out all of the standard portion of the floor. Last night we finished up custom sections and tonight we will be moving the mats to the dojo. I won't be attending tomorrow's class but I am planning on my usual Thursday night class at the dojo. Garry is not able to teach his two classes this Saturday, so I volunteered. I have started working on the lesson plan for the open class (surawaza and hamni-handache techniques will be the focus) and for the beginner, fundemtal class, I will teach my basic Aikido.

Aikido for 08/24/2010

Tuesday's Class was taught by Ken. After warm-up we practiced the following techniques:

• katatetori tenkan kokyunage
• katatetori kokyu-ho (or irimi-style) throw
• katatetori hijinage omote
• yokomenuchi iriminage with a yonkyo opening, Ken told us that both the hijinage and iriminage were from Doran Sensei at this year's Summer Camp in the Rockies.
• bokken exercise
• bokken kata were as uke raises up for a shomen strike, nage moves the wrist up to engage uke's exposed forearms before coming around for a yokomen strike to uke's same-side neck.

After class I went with Tip, Ken, and Doug to Old Chicago for beer and bar food.

Aikido for 08/19/2010

Aikido class was taught by Tip. After a quick warm-up, I was called as uke for all of the class demonstrations. After about 45 minutes, we had 6th kyu test for Mark and then 5 kyu test for Kate. I was Kate's uke for the tachi-waza techniques while Nate was Kate's uke for the bokken and jo katas.

Aikido for 08/17/2010

Last night Ken taught an abbreviated class. Two beginners, Mike and Tom, needed to test and Tuesday was the only time they had available; Ken, Tip, and Garry stayed on for 6th kyu testing after regular class. During the class, we started off with the following techniques:

• katatetori kokyunage tenkan-style
• katatetori kokyunage irimi style, Ken had us practice the variation where nage slides forward and rotates the grabbed hand to the side and up, forcing uke to raise an elbow and ideally turning around to take forward uke
• shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi iriminage

We will be having a couple more people test on Thursday with the final testing day on Saturday. I won't be in Colorado Springs this weekend; I am headed to Grand Junction after a couple of meeting in Denver on Friday. It is my father's 60th birthday on Sunday so Happy Birthday Dad!

Aikido for 08/14/2010

On Saturday Garry taught class. There was a lot of people and we worked on a number of different techniques including a number of katatori kokyunage variations. We then practiced the openings to the first and second kumijo katas.

Aikido for 08/12/2010

Thursday night class was shortened because of kyu testing. After a short warm-up, Ken ran us through the basic 6th kyu techniques including katatetori ikkyo, shomenuchi ikkyo, shomenuchi iriminage, katatetori shihonage, and katatetori kotegashi. We then went through 2nd kyu test for Dave, I was uke for most of his test including the koshinages. There was then a 4th kyu test and three 6th kyu tests. Everyone passed but we all need to work on the ASU weapon katas.

Aikido for 08/10/2010

Last night Ken taught class. After warm-up, we practiced the following techniques:

• katatetori tenkan kokyunage
• katatetori irimi kokyunage
• katatetori shihonage omote and ura
• shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura (static style)
• shomenuchi iriminage (starting static), for the iriminage I worked with Tip and about half-way through, switched to doing a koshinage instead of a regular back ukemi. I enjoy the break-falls as uke

After class, I went to Tako (a Japanese restaurant) for the dojo's board meeting. In a couple of weeks, we will be replacing the floor in the dojo. Thursday is kyu rank testing. Ken is also starting an advanced, by invitation only class on Monday nights. Most of the students in the dojo are beginners and during the open classes, we focus on the fundamental techniques. The advanced class will explore more variety in techniques along with more intense training. I am excited about the change although it does mean I'll have to adjust my training schedule.

Aikido for 08/07/2010

On Saturday, Garry taught the morning class (I only attended the morning session). We practiced the following techniques:

• yokomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• yokomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura
• yokomenuchi iriminage
• kumitachi one and two

Aikido for 08/05/2010

Tip taught class on Thursday. After we warmed up, we practiced the following techniques:

• shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi iriminage
• munetsuki kotegashi
• katatetori shihonage omote and ura
• yokomenuchi shihonage omote and ura

Tip called me to be uke for all of the technique demonstrations but one. Being uke for the instructor is the time when I really notice and I am in tune with the martial aspects of ukemi. When prompted by Tip to demonstrate an opening to watch for as nage, as uke, I am usually in the right position to perform the reverse. Also, I had the opportunity to take a couple of nice break-falls from kotegashi technique.

Aikido for 08/03/2010

On Tuesday night, Ken taught class. After warming up, we practiced the following techniques:

• katatetori ikkyo omote and ura
• katatetori nikkyo omote and ura
• kosadori iriminage

After class, Ken and I talked about attending the September 9th Aikido Bridge Seminar with Ikeda and Mary Heiny Sensei.